Classic bikes

[deejayen]

Just wondering if anybody uses an old bike for off-road riding and bike-packing. Pictures would be great!

There's something about old bikes which appeals to me, but I'm not really sure of the look I have in mind. I suppose some older components such as canti brakes, a nicely raked fork, and maybe a lugged frame.

I suppose they wouldn't ride as well as a modern bike, and might in fact be 'death traps', but I'd like to hear tales of derring-do...

[Pirahna]

Apart from canits being a bit rubbish compared to discs I can't see why it would be a problem, there's plenty of people riding rigid 26ers and enjoying themselves. In fact I've got a nice Marin Eldridge Grade in the loft if you fancy giving it a go.

[RobMac]

Pretty well all of my bikes are 26'ers.
And I wont be getting rid of them any time soon.

[firestarter]

I ride this more than any of my other bikes. How much for the marin btw

[Pirahna]

How much for the marin btw

Make me an offer.

It's around a 1992 I think looking at pictures on Google (blackish with orange forks and stays). Originally bought for my sister-in-law by her first husband, she barely used it. She gave it to my wife who did a few tours on it but it never really fitted properly. Brakes aren't original, it's got low profile catis fitted, the 7 speed cassette has been swapped out as well. It needs a new headset and that's it, I think it's still got the original tyres on it. i was going to leave it another ten years then sell it on retro bike.

[RobMac]

I ride this more than any of my other bikes.

Kona one of my favourites and a beautifully put together example at that

[Dr Nick]

This one tends to get used for mixed on road and gentle off road riding And now has some compass tyres on it...



aithough it has been in proper off-road mode before (but still with moustache bars)



this one doesn't every do more than gentle bridleways: (and it's theoretically my wife's. My Moulton mk3 is in bits...)




and does this count as off-road?

leaving our wedding on a galaxy twin 531 painted to go with my wife's dress!

[jameso]

Some of the most amazing rides ever have been done on what we now see as retro bikes, old ATBs and road bikes. Loaded a bit heavier maybe, but still going well.

I always wanted a Rivendell but the lack of discs might compromise them a bit for what I'd use it for. They'd be all wrong with discs tho so I just admire the style as they are and ride my Jones sometimes instead. The steel Jones has a certain retro appeal to me, the clunker forks and odd bars I think. Rivi summer bike maybe, just since it's a nice thing.

[Scattamah]

Love my 1993 Cadex CFM3...although she doesn't get used for bikepacking so much anymore. I'm always paranoid about straps eating through the carbon seat rails and bars. Just the frame remains from the original bike, but I did put a triple and long cage on the rebuild in 2006 (as seen in the pic).

kadey_packing.jpg (137.75 KiB) Viewed 4108 times

Greetz

S.

[deejayen]

Some lovely bikes!

I've got a 1965 Moulton, and I've tried a few different handlebars, but it seems to work best for me with drops. It's got Kojaks on it, so gravel seems to be its limit off-road.

What size is your Marin, Pirahna?

What bike is in your first picture, Dr Nick?

I quite like the look of the Stanforth Kibo



I'm not sure about the stem and handlebars, though. They make it look like a hybrid. Was there a Muddy Fox or Peugeot which had similar geometry to that (horizontal top tube) but with some braced risers?

I'd love a Jones, but suspect they're the future rather than the past!

[Dr Nick]

Agreed, some very nice bikes shown.

The bike in my first picture is a Muddy Fox Sorcerer. given to me by its original owner after it had sat unused for many years.

It's tange prestige tubing and has some lovely touches like a paw print 'embossed' detail in the seat tube cluster and diamond detailing around the bottle cage bosses which contrast with the klunkiest canti braze ons known to man.

I quite like mixing old and new. The Moulton series 1 pictured is a very early one with a pop rivited frame. I quite like the contrast of the carbn bar end brake levers that are fitted (along with a twin shift lever 5 speed sturmey sprinter hub gear in a 28 hole shellI, if we're getting geeky!)

Even my modern bike is really a modern update of what we now call a retro bike: A Genesis fortitude adventure: Steel frame and rigid forks, hub gears (alfine 11), brooks (Cambium), and Jones loop bars

[Bearbonesnorm]

I've got my first mountain bike in the cellar, an 853 Rock Lobster. I drag it out every so often for a tootle and I'm always surprised by just how light it is and how well it rides.

[Solo]

I've got a 1990 Fisher Celerity. A few 'upgrades' from the time period like low profile cantis etc.

It's now singlespeed and would be used more if I got round to sorting the headset bearings but my free time at the moment is rare so spent riding not fixing!

[TheBrownDog]

Loads of the boys in my MTB club are into their retro bikes and have organised a ride event the past couple of years. Its a reet larf and brings out some proper MTB classics.

[deejayen]

Thanks!

It seems that the Muddy Fox bikes from the mid 1980's might be the sort of thing I was thinking of. I've learnt that the handlebars I was thinking of are bullmoose bars.

I have a Saracen from the early 90's, and the riding position has a high saddle with low bars, so I find it intimidating on the descents, although I might get used to it if I started riding it again.

I've come across this Ritchey which looks nice:



I'm tempted to buy a pair of bullmoose bars, and try them out on my Saracen. If the riding position is a bit too extreme, maybe try them on something like this Surly Long Haul Trucker

[MuddyPete]

...old bike...'death traps'...off-road riding...pictures...tales of derring-do...

Guilty on all counts! .

Six months after I bought my first 'mountain bike' (a previously-enjoyed bouncy, V-braked iron horse of unpredictable durability, for a mere 60 of my English pounds) I spent a winter long week-end in Aviemore in 2010. I was still at the "it's a mountain bike, of course it can go up mountains" stage and it would make a relaxed alternative to climbing, if needed. So for the first day I planned a bimble up Gleann Eanaich to the loch for a spot of lunch; over the summit of Carn Ban Mor; down the Allt Fhearnagan, then along Glen Feshie to Aviemore in time for tea. A nice, simple loop. So: equipped with a day's supply of winter walking gear; two hearty lunches and a bicycle I set off from Aviemore.
Just after this photo the bearings fell out of my freewheel (yes, freewheel). So I put them back in and pedaled on.


The walk up to Carn Ban Mor was a bit sketchier than anticipated... but flat pedals & crampons are a surprisingly good combination .


The view from the top was pretty good...


...(if a bit bleak)...


...until I realised I should have been on the other side of the corrie


The entertaining descent down into Glen Feshie became unexpectedly exciting when I discovered rim brakes don't work when the rims are covered in ice . Fortunately I stopped by falling through a snow bridge, flipping over the bars and slithering to a halt still holding the grips which I'd pulled off the handle bar during my acrobatics.
"Perhaps there's more to this mountain biking malarky than meets the eye," I pondered.
A uneventful, but ravenous ride along Glen Feshie back to Aviemore introduced me to the disappointment of the "sorry, we've stopped serving" phrase I seem to encounter all-too frequently; whilst trying to ration the last fluff-covered raisins tucked away in the depths of my pockets.
I finally made it back to Aviemore, where the Old Bridge Inn took pity on me and fed me well.
That night it snowed heavily and did so for 3 days (http://www.sais.gov.uk/wp-content/uploa ... 009_10.pdf).

Three trains were stuck in the snow; Aviemore was cut-off by road and the TV transmitter failed. The pubs were still open, though .

Climbing was off; the bike was being repaired, so I did the sensible thing...

...and went skiing.

P.S. - Nice Kona, BTW.

[deejayen]

Thanks, MuddyPete - it sounds like a day to remember! It's a great story, and it's good you've got photos of it. I'm re-thinking disc brakes after your frozen brake blocks escapade!

[MuddyPete]

There's something about old bikes which appeals to me, but I'm not really sure of the look I have in mind...

Perhaps it's the same sort of "agricultural charm" that makes old Land Rovers popular .



Or how about...


(Photos courtesy 'bring-a-trailer.com', 'Rivendell'/'bikepacking.com', 'pinterest' & 'Singular cycles'.)

[BreninBeener]

I have a Girvin flex stem and a pr of Scott AT 4 bars that would suit these bikes. Just pay for their postage!

Ian

[smartay]

Hi all
I still have my other halfs bike, 91/2 Specialised Rockhopper cruz. Completely original apart from the tyres. Not used much!
I used for mild off road or into town, but use my Genesis single speed now

[Ian]

I'm getting close to the end of the restoration of my Dad's 1949 Raleigh Sports.

Given the church/chapel winter event could be mostly road based, I'd be tempted to do it on the Raleigh, if it weren't for the need to prep for Rovaniemi.